Daily Gospel Reflection – Thursday, March 28

Luke 11:14-23
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Jesus had driven out a demon from a mute man. When the demon left the mute man spoke. This caused the crowd to questioned Jesus. They tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided cannot stand.”  If Satan is divided against Satan, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out. So then, they will be your judges, but if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

When a strong man guards his own house, his possessions are safe. Then a stronger man overpowers him, and takes his armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

As the people witnessed the demon being cast from the mute man, they still questioned Jesus by wanting to see a sign from heaven.  Jesus responded by saying “a house divided cannot stand.” The kingdom of heaven is for those that follow Jesus Christ through faith – not only seeing but believing.

By Coach Keith Robinson, Faculty